Ugg boots stolen from Clinton School girls locker room during after-school basketball game

CLINTON — Four pairs of Ugg boots were reported stolen from a girls locker room during an after-school basketball game, apparently taken by three teens who formerly attended the school. The combined value of the boots is $670.

The girls could be charged with theft and with criminal mischief because they also allegedly drew on walls near the locker room. The graffiti was initials and dates, police reported.

Patrolman James Kramer, who is also the school’s resource officer, received the theft and graffiti report at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. He spoke with people at the school and reviewed the recording from hallway security cameras, police reported, leading him to 15-year-old girls from High Bridge, Glen Gardner and Annandale.

Glen Gardner does not have a school, instead its elementary and middle school students attend the grades K-8 Clinton Public School.

Police said that the girls hid the boots after taking them. They were later returned to the owners. According to police, the girls couldn’t say why the boots were taken.

Clinton Sgt. Jay Hunter said on Feb. 1 that police are determining whether to charge the girls, bringing them into the criminal justice system, or to handle it in-house without formal charges.

Police have some discretion in such matters and, for instance, may require young offenders to instead pay restitution and perform community service.